chia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• chia
• desert-lavender

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hyptis emoryi var. palmeri
• Mesosphaerum emoryi
• Mesosphaerum palmeri
• Hyptis palmeri
• Hyptis emoryi
• Hyptis emoryi var. amplifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Condea emoryi, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Lamiaceae and the genus Condea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the southwestern regions of North America. In the United States, its distribution is limited to the southwestern states of Arizona and California. Moving southward, the species also populates parts of Mexico. Specifically, it can be found throughout the Northwest region of Mexico. Consequently, the habitat of Condea emoryi spans across these distinct desert and subtropical territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Condea emoryi is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, it exhibits a dual classification of life forms, manifesting as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. This indicates that while it possesses the capacity to maintain visible, woody or persistent stem structures above the ground, it also maintains a low-growing growth habit where its buds are positioned close to the soil surface.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Condea emoeryi is characterized by a woody structure, exhibiting a growth form consistent with a shrub or subshrub. This plant is fundamentally terrestrial in its habitat, though it displays a versatile ecological range that can encompass aquatic and semiaquatic environments. Unlike climbing species that function as lianas or vines, this taxon is strictly self-supporting, maintaining its posture without the need for obligatory or facultative climbing mechanisms. Furthermore, it functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Condea emooryi is characterized by the production of remarkably small seeds, which exhibit specific morphological weight parameters. The seed mass within the population is relatively uniform, featuring a mean mass of 0.0005165 g. Variations in individual seed weight are minimal, with the recorded mass ranging from a minimum of 0.000453 g to a maximum of 0.00058 g. These precise measurements indicate a highly consistent reproductive output in terms of seed size and weight distribution.

Seed mass max:

0.00058 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0005165 g

Seed mass min:

0.000453 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Condea emoryi has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid, EO, OLEANOLIC ACID, Ursolic acid.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pain

EO

1. Dr. Duke

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Pain

Ursolic acid

1. Pain

Activities

Condea emoryi has 18 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticarcinomic.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pain

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke